Evacuations are underway between Kirwee and West Melton due to a large pine forest fire.

Emergency services were alerted to the blaze on Thompson Road shortly after 9 PM.

A Fire and Emergency Command Unit has been set up in the area, and a local caravan park is being evacuated due to its proximity to the fire.

Nearby houses are also being evacuated.

Fire crews from across Canterbury, including from Christchurch, have been called to the blaze, which spans approximately 1 kilometre by 1 kilometre (as of 10PM)

Police were at the scene, blocking off Old West Coast Road.

A nearby resident told chrislynchmedia.com the fire was growing fast in size.

“The wind has picked up a bit so it’s getting a bit bigger” the resident said.

Residents are being told to re-location to the West Melton community centre.

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